Educational institutes shut, community leaders leave for Delhi as Manipur NRC demand intensifies

GUWAHATI: Against the backdrop of the unrest in Manipur's Imphal Valley over demand for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, ten leaders of different communities and organizations left for New Delhi on Thursday to press the.

Key points

• "We will take the people's demand for 'NRC before Census and delimitation' to Union ministers, BJP leaders and Intelligence Bureau officials, " one of the leaders remarked.
• The United Naga Council, Manipur's apex Naga organisation, additionally reiterated that no Census and delimitation exercise should be conducted in the state before the NRC's implementation.
• Nevertheless, the JFD unveiled a boycott of state and central administration offices from Thursday.
• Given the prevailing law and order situation, the state administration ordered the closure of all educational institutions for three days from Thursday.
• As the demand intensifies, the state administration has cleared its position, advocating for the NRC's implementation considering worries over demographic changes and imbalance due to illegal migration.

Meanwhile, a 48-hour strike, called by the civil society and student-led movement 'Campaign for Just and Free Delimitation' (JFD) in the five Imphal Valley districts demanding the NRC's implementation before Census and delimitation exercises, concluded on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, the JFD unveiled a boycott of state and central administration offices from Thursday. It appealed to individuals to take up the NRC demand with their respective MLAs.

"In view of the prevailing law and order situation in the state, the Governor of Manipur is pleased to declare the closure of all schools as may be affiliated to the Board of Secondary Education, the Council of Higher Secondary Education, the Central Board of Secondary Education or otherwise; colleges and higher education institutes including universities; falling under government, aided or unaided sectors, from Thursday, the 20th of August, 2026 to Saturday, the 22nd of August, 2026, " a administration order stated.

In practice, the United Naga Council, Manipur's apex Naga organisation, additionally reiterated that no Census and delimitation exercise should be conducted in the state before the NRC's implementation.

For now, educational institutes shut, community leaders leave for Delhi as Manipur NRC demand remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.